Issue - meetings

            – Report by Ms Rosalind Turner, Managing Director: Children, Families and Education

(1)       This report sought the views of the School Organisation Advisory Board on a proposal to undertake a public consultation on the closure of Astor of Hever (Community) School and its replacement with a Government funded Academy subject to Ministerial approval.

(2)       Astor of Hever has been without a substantive Headteacher since April 2008.  The County Council required the school to enter into a partnership with The Westlands School (a high performing high school in Kent) because of its challenging circumstances and lack of experienced senior leadership.   Under this arrangement the Headteacher of Westlands School has acted as Executive Headteacher but from September 2009 a new collaboration had been established for 2009/10 with Mascalls School.  In addition the existing school buildings are outdated, are a significant maintenance liability and some areas are not compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act.  The proposal is therefore to develop the Astor of Hever into an Academy providing high performing comprehensive education for boys and girls of all abilities aged between 11 and 19 years located on the existing Oakwood Park campus.  The intention is to develop the Academy in collaboration with neighbouring schools and developed by the sponsor Woodard Schools in consultation with the local community.  If approved the Academy would be led by an Executive Principal and a Governing Body, whose membership would be appointed by Woodard Schools, but would include additionally local authority representation and staff and parent governors.  All pupils from Astor of Hever School would transfer to the new Academy which it was proposed would open in January 2011 in the existing buildings and then move into new buildings during the academic year 2013-2014.  During the course of discussions Mr Dance said that he believed the high reputation of Woodard Schools would bring quality to this proposal and build on the positive benefits Astor of Hever had developed through it links with the Westland School.  The Academy proposal would also result in the school being located in new buildings and it should be fully supported.  Mr Koowaree said that he had spoken to both Mr Vye and to Mr Daley (as one of the local Members) who both said they supported the proposals. 

(3)       The Advisory Board agreed to support a public consultation being undertaken on the proposal for the closure of Astor of Hever (Community) School, Maidstone and its replacement with a government-funded Academy, subject to Ministerial approval.